Nissan chose to launch the model - which has more than 100 improvements on the original Nissan Leaf - on the same day that the new London congestion charge came into force.
The changes mean several other car brands are no longer exempt from the charge. At the launch, journalists were advised to skip the charge as they passed an actual skip full of real cars that are now not eligible.
Replica congestion zone signs confirmed that they did not need to pay if they were driving a Leaf.
Inside The O2, journalists had the chance to test a version of the Leaf that appeared to have been sliced in half, showing them what was underneath the outer shell of the car.
They could explore the Nissan Innovation Station, which is a permanent brand exhibition at the venue, and explore a race version of the Leaf.
Journalists then had the opportunity to take the new Leaf out on London's roads for a test drive.
The event was organised by Epic, an agency set up earlier this year by William Bicknell, which specialises in automotive and press events. Bicknell was previously a director at Chillisauce.
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